Wednesday Night #2138

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY!

The Washington Post greets the day with this:
Single women take an outsize role in the workforce — and the economy
A record 52 percent of women in the United States are unmarried. But a stubborn wage gap means they have less spending power and wealth.
While GZERO Media dares to ask What is feminist foreign policy?, it also showcases “just a few of the exceptional women we’ve interviewed on “GZERO World with Ian Bremmer,” our weekly program on US public television – a pretty impressive group.

If there is going to be a news bombshell, chances are that it will be on a Wednesday.
To prove our point, our friend and Wednesday Nighter The Honourable Marc Garneau, MP for NDG-Westmount and former minister of Global Affairs and Transport, announced today (Wednesday) that he is resigning his seat
Marc Garneau to leave politics after 15-year career
He said he has enjoyed his time outside cabinet, chairing committees such as the standing committee on Indigenous and northern affairs. He has also been a member of the special joint committee on medical assistance in dying.
“It has been meaningful to me because I don’t think I have ever grappled with something quite as profoundly human and important, potentially, to every single citizen of the country.”
… Mr. Garneau said he leaves with one key regret. He was never able to successfully make the case for Canada to have a national children’s commissioner akin to the commissioners for privacy and ethics to provide a voice for children.
Marc Garneau quitte la vie politique
En entrevue, M. Garneau a dit regretter de ne pas avoir eu la chance de poursuivre le travail de rapatriement des réfugiés afghans, entre autres choses. Kaboul, la capitale de l’Afghanistan, est tombée aux mains des talibans le jour du déclenchement des élections, en août 2021, provoquant le chaos lorsque plusieurs pays ont tenté d’évacuer des milliers d’Afghans en catastrophe. « Lors des dernières élections, j’ai passé 10 % de mon temps à faire campagne et 90 % à m’occuper des dossiers des affaires étrangères

Doug Sweet is champing at the bit to discuss Revealing Fox News texts point to the right’s long war on the truth and we agree that it is an extremely important story.
“This is one of the most extraordinary scandals to ever buffet a major American network. But it also points to an even bigger story: The right wing media’s long war on the truth. For decades, conservative media outlets have expressly sought to build and capture an audience that would accept only their version of events, and would be cordoned off to place them beyond the reach of mainstream news sources entirely.”
See also: The Real Elitists Are at Fox News – Republicans and their media enablers despise ordinary Americans. and White House goes after Tucker Carlson by name over Jan. 6 coverage – In a rare rebuke of the Fox News ratings leader, the White House said Carlson is “not credible.”

China and the U.S have been trading irritants and accusations:
Suppressing China won’t make America great – Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang
Mr Qin’s comments follow Chinese President Xi Jinping’s unusually direct rebuke of the US on Monday.
Mr Xi said “Western countries led by the US had implemented all-round containment, encirclement and suppression” against China and that this brought “severe challenges” to the country.
Abusing state power’: China lashes out at US over TikTok bans
Beijing – which itself blocks access to Facebook, Twitter and many others – hits out at ban on Chinese-owned software on US government devices
On Tuesday’s Diplomatic Community Jeremy Kinsman and Larry Haas focus on the state of U.S.-China relations and, after suggesting that the two leaders need to grow up, offer somewhat positive thoughts about the China-Russia links.

Putin’s War continues unabated.
The BBC reports that Between 20,000 and 30,000 Russian troops have been killed and wounded in the battle for the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut since it began last summer, Western officials say.
The epic nature of the battle is out of all proportion to Bakhmut’s strategic significance, they add.
But after more than six months of grinding, horrific fighting, the future of Bakhmut still hangs in the balance.

Hungarian delegation backs Sweden’s NATO application
I have not always been a fan of Dr. Friedman or his Stratfor analyses, however, believe the explanation he offers for Hungary’s change of heart/policy in Hungary and Russia is highly credible.

REMINDER: From the Ground Up in Ukraine – Paule Robitaille in conversation with Dan Bilak
Friday, March 10, from 1 – 2:30 pm.
Paule Robitaille interviews Dan Bilak, a Ukrainian-Canadian based in Kyiv for some 30 years, where he has worked to promote investment in Ukraine. Mr. Bilak responded to the invasion of his country by Russian forces by mobilizing his own volunteer defence unit, an achievement recognized with a medal awarded him by Ukraine’s defence minister. Paule Robitaille, who, like Mr. Bilak, is a McGill law graduate, reported on his engagement in a recent article published in the National Post  and La Presse
The event will be held in English, with discussion in both languages.

Cleo Paskal is having a bit of fun at the expense of “Alfred Sasako – aka China Daily’s de facto insert in the Solomon Star” who reports that a US-backed hit squad was sent to take out Solomon’s PM Sogavare with SR88s, SLRs and grenades, but concludes on a serious note:
If you have not been following the Solomon Islands/PRC saga – see China-Solomon Islands Security Agreement and Competition for Influence in Oceania

While we always enjoy Cleo’s reports, we wish that she would return to her earlier focus on India in this year when India holds the presidency of the G20. At last week’s meeting of the G20 foreign ministers, Modi attempted  to  maintain an appropriately neutral position, and push forward as the leader of the Global South, while Putin’s War dominated the agenda. At G20 meeting, India’s Modi says ‘global governance has failed’

An anniversary you probably did not remember
MH370: The Flight That Disappeared is only on Netflix March 8th.
On March 8th, 2014, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 disappeared from radar. When the 239 people on board went missing, a global investigation into the greatest mystery of the modern age ensued. Despite official reports, countless theories, and tireless searches for evidence, one central question remained – What Are We Missing?
And if you aren’t satisfied after watching Netflix, check out the long read below

Varia
Very disappointed to learn from Louise Penny‘s post on Facebook that “There will be no second season of THREE PINES. Despite achieving #1 for Prime in US, Canada, UK and other markets, and top ten wherever it was broadcast, Amazon Prime Video has decided to cancel it. I am shocked and upset. Like any show, it had growing pains, but it was only going to get better and better. And it already had Alfred Molina as Gamache! Alfred was deeply invested in the show. He wanted to pass this along to you:
**Sadly, we will not be returning with a second season. My personal disappointment aside, I am proud of what we achieved, and honored to have been part of a wonderful creative team who gave everything to bring Louise’s books to the screen. **
If you want to write to Amazon with your thoughts, the executive in charge of Prime Video Television is Vernon Sanders. His email is: vernon.sanders@amazonstudios.com
George Will: Woke word-policing is now beyond satire
“The University of Southern California’s school of social work banned the word “field” because it connotes slavery. So, Joe DiMaggio did not roam Yankee Stadium’s center field. Heaven forfend. Perhaps centerpasture. DiMaggio was a centerpasturer? An awkward locution, but it appeases the sensitivity police. The Chicago Cubs should henceforth play in Wrigley Meadow.”
EU, UK, Swiss probe suspected fragrance cartel, Givaudan confirms cooperation
Swiss fragrance and flavour maker Givaudan (GIVN.S) said on Tuesday that it was being investigated by European Union and Swiss antitrust authorities after the EU announced earlier it had raided several companies on concerns of a cartel in the supply of fragrances and fragrance ingredients.

Long reads
There’s Something Odd About the Dogs Living at Chernobyl
Pets left behind when people fled the disaster in 1986 seem to have seeded a unique population.
This dates back to 2019, but revives a mystery that consumed us at the time (2014 –)
What Really Happened to Malaysia’s Missing Airplane
Five years ago, the flight vanished into the Indian Ocean. Officials on land know more about why than they dare to say.
By William Langewiesche